Selfridges’ Alexander McQueen window display: tasteless, much?

Selfridges Manchester have issued an apology after attracting fierce criticism for a window display showing an Alexander McQueen dress hanging from what looks to us very much like a gallows.

Selfridges’ statement read:

“Presenting a fashion item from the new Alexander McQueen collection hanging was never intended to be linked to the designer’s untimely death or how he died. Nearly all the new season items from our new window scheme, The Desirables, showcased in both our London and Manchester stores, are hung artistically on their own to present them as even more extraordinary. However, we do acknowledge that, in retrospect, presenting the dress in our Manchester Exchange Square store in this way was a mistake, and would like to apologise if this particular window has upset anyone. The dress has been removed and replaced by another designer’s garment.”

We’d say that when the designer’s death-by-hanging is still so fresh in everyone’s minds (or, indeed, at any other time, come to think of it), it’s possibly not in the best taste to “hang” one of his creations like this. What do you think, though?